It really is amazing that God is so patient, so humble, so willing to endure hardship.  Here's the rub though.  You ready? God wants all of us who would follow Him to do the same!

     Oh man, here's the part that hurts.  Jesus' example is just that, an example...to follow!

     Not only do we learn about sacrifice and humility from Jesus, but we see it in the lives of all those who have lived in relationship with God throughout history.  In this area of listening to people beyond their manner of presentation, consider these examples:

-1 Samuel 8:7 "The Lord said to Samuel, 'Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.' "

     How hard that must have been!  Samuel was listening to God's people griping about how they wanted what their neighbors had.  They wanted a king to rule over them!  God had told his people what a king would do to them and warned them about the difficulties, but they wouldn't have anything else!  So, they came, complaining to Samuel, the prophet of God.  They came with insults, "you are old and your sons don't live like you!"  Also, they came comparing themselves, wanting to be like "all the nations" (1 Sam. 8:5).  No surprise, "the thing displeased Samuel.  It displeased Samuel because the people were seeking something that God had not already provided!  Still, look at God's response to His man of the hour: obey the voice of the people.  Ummm, excuse me, what?  Really?  You mean some other people, right?  Surely you don't mean that I should O....O....Obey these people!?  They're in sin!  They're rejecting you!  God, how could you call me to yield to them?  But God did just that in that situation, and Samuel soon annointed Saul as king

-Proverbs 18:13 "If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame."

     This is hard to live out:  I have so many ideas, Lord! And this situation seems just like that other situation!  God, lemme at 'em!  Lemme at 'em!  Please Lord, I know just the thing to say to this person; these first five minutes I've heard them are enough for me to fix them, I just know it!   As leaders, I think it is especially easy to fail in this area because we have had good ideas in the past!  Unfortunately, it is especially dangerous if we do!  Imagine a doctor with a patient.  How embarrassing would it be if the doctor welcomed you into the office, looked at your puffy eyes, wrote a prescription and sent you on your way!  Maybe your puffy eyes were from crying about stomach pain!  Spiritual leadership has eternal impact!  We must listen, and listen well because people are important to God and because we can misdiagnose, misunderstand and mistreat, causing great pain and personal harm.

Here are some qualities that I see in Jesus and want to see in myself as far as listening is concerned.  Maybe you'll find them helpful too.

1. Listening is best done with the heart, not just the ears.  This gets at the intent, not just content of communication.  (Consider John 11:21-27 Jesus did not merely listen to Martha's words, he discerned her intentions.  Then, he saw an opportunity to open everyone's eyes.)

2. Listening is for the speaker too.  Listening gives others the ability to say what they need to say with a captive, engaged audience (Mark 10:51).   This is hard for me.  Very hard at times because my analytical brain wants to move on once I get the jist of what's being said.  Still, if I deny others the ability to talk, I fail to fully listen and demonstrate folly and shame.

3. Find the nugget in the goop.  Good listening must, at times, endure poor, even hurtful, speech.  Jesus demonstrated this very well with the High Priest in Matthew 26:63-68.  He didn't mentally check-out, rebuke his captor or ignore the situation.  He pressed ahead to complete His calling. 

4. Omniscient listeners are best; so get as close as you can.  God patiently listens to us even though he knows everything.  We don't know everything, so we have to pay close attention, ask good questions, and glean all we can from what we have.  There are limits, but the best listener will seek clarity on crucial points.

5. Listen and trust.  We have more responsibilities than listening.  Therefore, there is always a limit to how much time we can spend opening our hearts, giving an ear, finding the nugget and clarifying.  Godly listeners understand their limits and put confidence in God's limitless capabilities.  So labor to listen, but entrust every situation to God.

Lord, make me a listener like You are, please.  I want to care about the people I listen to, be patient with hard situations and honor you in all I do.  Please, Holy Spirit be active in me to listen well.